Love, Life's Strength

Sometimes struggles help excavate the life that is essentially good, abundant and filled with love.

On the virtue of strength:
Instead of anger toward a perceived or misconceived opponent, paying attention to one's own weaknesses when unable to withstand opposition and enmity is a practice that is a gift in itself. For 'weakness is sin' and it is also a sacred calling to find ways to gather strength - including a kind of strength which will enable forgiveness of oneself and others, to bring light onto oneself to look at the positive qualities in oneself and others and most of all to connect with oneself and others through that which is real, and it is the grace and strength that is perhaps called love.


Dr. James Finley is a clinical psychologist in practice in Santa Monica. The deep sense of clarity and ease that his lectures brings... and a piece of St.John was what I once came across much to my fortune. In his lecture he explained about St.John of the Cross - who is said to be "a major figure of the Catholic Reformation" and who lived in the 14th century - and of an incident of his meeting with two people. One was at ease in relating to St.John and another was with whom St.John had difficulty with. And St.John of the Cross paid attention to the latter. Dr.Finley explains through his own personal power that transmits itself and reaches the listener, that upon St.John's death this man "went and changed his life"!

Upon waking up to one's own weaknesses, the path of gathering strength leads to the power for example, that Saint John has showed and given to mankind in living his own life.